Essex County Recorder of Deeds: Search & Office

01 / Essential details

Essex County Register of Deeds Quick Facts

Official office

Essex County Register of Deeds and Mortgages

Register

Hon. Juan M. Rivera Jr.

Address

Hall of Records, Room 130, 465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Newark, NJ 07102

Telephone

973-621-4960

Fax

973-621-2590

General email

info@essexregister.com

Search support

presssupport@essexregister.com

Office hours

Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; confirm the last transaction cutoff before visiting

Online search

PRESS — Public Records Electronic Search System

Older documents

Historical records in the Public Vault, dating back to the early 1700s

02 / Official public records

How to Search Essex County Deeds Online

Essex County uses the PRESS land-record search. It offers four practical search methods, so choose the one that matches the information you already have.

Micro-steps: find a deed using PRESS

1. Open the official search.

   Visit the Essex County PRESS records portal.

   Open PRESS Search
2. Choose a search section.

   Use By Name if you know an owner, or By Block and Lot if you know the municipal parcel identification.

3. Enter the correct details.

   For block and lot, select the municipality first. For a name search, enter the surname or business name.

4. Narrow the recording dates.

   The search interface indicates that its date-range fields are limited to a maximum span of 90 days. Use multiple searches when researching a longer period.

5. Review the results.

   Compare the deed type, parties, recording date, book/page or instrument reference.

6. Keep the document reference.

   Save the recording details for a copy request or an in-office search of the original record.

Can I view a complete deed image online?

Do not assume every document image is downloadable from PRESS. The Register’s official records guidance directs users to in-office computers and the Public Vault for viewing images and historical material. Contact the office if you require an official copy.

What if your mortgage cancellation is missing?

Mortgage cancellations recorded before July 2, 2012 may appear in the index without an electronic image. Request an official copy from the Register rather than treating the missing image as proof that no discharge exists.

03 / Visit the Register

Essex County Recorder Office Address, Hours & Google Map

04 / Recording documents

How to Record a Deed in Essex County, New Jersey

A new deed must satisfy New Jersey legal and recording requirements. The Essex County Register records the instrument but cannot draft it or advise you which transfer method is legally appropriate.

1. Prepare the correct deed.

   Confirm the grantor, grantee, property description, consideration, signatures and acknowledgment. Consult a New Jersey attorney for transfers involving estates, trusts or ownership disputes.

2. Identify the property.

   Include the municipality and applicable block and lot details. For condominium deeds, the county also requires relevant qualifier numbers.

3. Complete the mandatory recording cover sheet.

   Essex County requires a cover sheet for individual land documents. Download it from the official Forms page.

4. Check Realty Transfer Fee requirements.

   Determine whether the transfer is taxable or exempt. Do not assume a quitclaim deed or a nominal $1 sale is automatically exempt.

5. Complete seller tax documents.

   Depending on the situation, New Jersey may require an Affidavit of Consideration and appropriate GIT/REP seller residency, declaration, prepayment or waiver forms.

6. Calculate all recording charges.

   Include the deed page fee, additional pages, indexed names and any applicable realty transfer fees or other taxes.

7. Submit the original document.

   Follow the county’s current counter, mailing or authorized electronic recording instructions.

8. Save the recording reference.

   Retain the recorded document information and confirm that the instrument appears in the public index.

After opening: download the Mandatory Cover Sheet, then check which Affidavit of Consideration and GIT/REP forms apply to your transaction.

Before submitting, check these items

05 / Published charges

Essex County Recorder of Deeds Fees

The Essex County Register publishes a detailed schedule for deeds, mortgages, discharges, certified copies and other recorded documents.

The fee page also lists an additional charge of $6 per indexed name after the first five names, where applicable.

Example: Three-page deed

The $65 example does not include the Realty Transfer Fee, any applicable additional indexed-name fees, or other transaction-specific taxes and charges.

What about the New Jersey Realty Transfer Fee?

New Jersey imposes Realty Transfer Fees on many transfers of real property. The total is not a single flat percentage for every transaction: consideration, exemptions, property classification and applicable state rules all matter.

Because tax rules and higher-value transfer charges can change, use the official New Jersey Division of Taxation guidance or obtain a transaction-specific calculation from a qualified closing professional. The recording charge is separate from the transfer taxes.

After opening: locate the specific document category and add page charges. Check the extra-name rules and request confirmation of the entire recording and tax total before mailing payment.

06 / Official copies

How to Get an Essex County Deed Copy or Certified Copy

If you have lost your deed, you do not need to buy a replacement from a private deed-copy company. The county maintains the recorded document and provides certified copies directly.

1. Find the deed reference.

   Search PRESS using the owner name, block/lot or book/page information.

2. Determine whether certification is necessary.

   A court, financial institution or other recipient may require the Register’s official certified copy rather than an ordinary image.

3. Request the copy in person or by mail.

   Provide the recorded owner names, approximate transfer date, property address and recording reference if available.

4. Include the correct fee.

   The county instructs mailed requesters to include a check payable to the Essex County Register.

5. Confirm delivery arrangements.

   Call the office for mailing and return-postage instructions before sending your request.

Example: Certified four-page deed

07 / Property protection

Essex County Free Record Alert and Deed Fraud Help

The Essex County Register offers a free Record Alert service through Landex. It notifies users when recorded property documents match a registered name or block and lot.

1. Open Record Alert.

   Go to the county’s Landex registration page.

   Open free Record Alert
2. Register your contact details.

   Follow the verification instructions shown by the service.

3. Add the name or property reference.

   Use the name or municipality/block/lot details linked to the property.

4. Review future notifications.

   Compare unfamiliar recordings with legitimate sales, refinances, trust transfers and other recent activity.

Fraud assistance: the Register’s public guidance identifies the Financial Crimes Fraud number as 973-266-7220.

08 / Local property research

Essex County Deeds for Newark, East Orange, Montclair and Nearby Towns

The Register serves all 22 Essex County municipalities. A deed for land in Montclair or Livingston is recorded with the same county office in Newark.

Communities include Newark, East Orange, Orange, West Orange, Bloomfield, Belleville, Nutley, Montclair, Glen Ridge, South Orange, Maplewood, Irvington, Livingston, Millburn, Cedar Grove, Verona, Caldwell, North Caldwell, West Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield and Roseland.

Where do I get the block and lot number?

Use your local municipal tax assessment record or the New Jersey property tax information system to identify the municipality, block and lot. Enter those details in the PRESS By Block and Lot section.

For ownership history, mortgages, easements or liens, a full title search may require inspecting multiple recorded documents, historical books and court records.

Do I need the County Clerk instead?

For deeds and mortgages, use the Register of Deeds and Mortgages. The separate Essex County Clerk handles services such as business trade names, notary and passport-related records.

For a current property-tax bill, tax balance, zoning matter or assessment appeal, begin with the municipality where the property is located.

09 / Common questions

Essex County Recorder of Deeds FAQs

10 / Government sources

Official Essex County Recorder Links & Resources